There are reports that the Community Infrastructure Improvement Project (CIIP) may soon be removed from under the management of municipalities across the country. According to Linden Mayor Carwyn Holland, he has made representation on behalf of the Linden Mayor and Town Council (LM&TC), for the programme toremain.
Holland explained that the issue came up for discussion during a meeting of Mayors and Town Clerks, where it was revealed that there have been countrywide concerns in relation to the CIIP programme.
The Mayor explained that he was not in possession of all the information and therefore was unable to report fully on the issue.
“I don’t want to report fully, but I understand the CIIP will be taken from under the municipality… I don’t have the full information… I think it was a decision of the Ministry (of Communities), due to constant problems over time. That they had a meeting some time and the final decision, I heard it was made. I’m not sure, I don’t have the facts, it wasn’t indicated to me by writing but this just came from a senior official,” Mayor Holland said.
Holland further explained that while there has been ongoing debate about the CIIP, he has advocated for the Linden CIIP programme to be used as a model for other municipalities.
“A lot of the other municipalities are having serious problems with their CIIP programme and I did represent. I said we don’t have this problem to this magnitude in Linden. In fact, I said clearly at that meeting of the municipal leaders that Linden is setting a trend and we have a model that they can gain from in trying to keep the programme,” Holland continued.
The implementation of CIIP programme, which commenced in several regions across the country in 2014, has resulted in the improvement of numerous communities, including the creation of employment.
Issues raised under the CIIP in Linden include late payments to workers, lack of equipment, termination of contracts and rehiring of fewer workers.
